Children & Family Ministries
Welcome to Children and Family Ministries
Here Is A Gift For All Congregations
From The Board of Cooperative Ministries
(a collaborative effort of Beth Hayes, Judy Knopf, Lisa Mullen, & Heather Stevenson)
This is an outline of a six week adult class designed for Raleigh Moravian. We are sharing it with everyone on the website in hopes it will meet your needs whether it be a Sunday School class or another small group time. It focuses on a time of Bible study around the Watchword of the Week followed by a time to become acquainted with Loving Hearts United: A Moravian Guide for Family Living and how it can be used in your families.
This piece on the website is written for the weeks of January 8, 2012-February 19, 2012. If your congregation is interested in using the outline but chooses a different time period, it can be adapted. If you choose another time frame, you are encouraged to draw upon the new lectionary commentary series, Feasting on the Word to construct the Bible study for the weeks you will be leading the class. The watchwords are part of the Revised Common Lectionary found in these commentaries. You will find the Feasting on the Word commentaries in the Resource Center. These books cannot be checked out of the Resource Center so plan your time to prepare for your Bible study accordingly. Should you be interested in purchasing this resource you may do so by contacting Beth Hayes in the Resource Center.
Please note:
- Bible commentary excerpts come from Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 1; Westminister John Knox Press. 2008
- The history of the project offered in the first session can be obtained from the BCM offices. It traces the development of Loving Hearts United, a family ministry Synod mandate which was written by many people from the Northern and Southern Province.
- You will need to assemble weekly worship tables using items that enhance the week’s lesson. Again, if you call the BCM, we can give you suggestions.
- During the last session you will invite your children to join you in experiencing Loving Hearts United as a family. The model designed ends the Sunday before Lent so we used Lenten activities in the centers. If you do this at another time such as Advent refer to the appendix and choose your own activities.
- Celebrate by coming together for a potluck meal in which each family can begin working on their own covenant. It can be as simple as “we will covenant to do one activity once a week for six weeks.” The staff of the BCM will be glad to clarify any part of this
or work with you to adapt the resource for your congregation.
Loving Hearts United Study
*Some recent articles have been added to our Moravian Roots and Wings website. Be sure to visit the site and read the recent articles.
Where the Wild Things Grow!
. . . well, some wild and some not so wild
Dear Families,
We would like to offer you an opportunity for a short family mission project! Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beets, green beans, egg plants and weeds, are taking off in our Salem Congregation peace gardens! Join us in the harvesting!
- Any Tuesday from 6:00 ‘til dusk
- Bring your family (and any garden tools if you wish!) to help harvest for Sunnyside Ministry
- We are at the corner of Bank and Church Streets next to Old Salem (behind the Belo Home)
Questions? Call Lisa Mullen at (336)722-8126 or email at lmullen@mcsp.org
How we got started with the garden:
At our Inter-Synodal conference in April of 2008, we convened at New Philadelphia Moravian to do some “asset mapping” of the Southern Province. Land was one gift that God has given many of our congregations!
We haven’t forgotten God’s invitation to dig into the earth, plant seeds and share the treasures she bears! On June 28th some of us, from various Moravian congregations, who had felt called to continue the ministry started by our Salem sisters and brothers centuries ago, met on corner of Church and Bank Streets in Old Salem to prepare and plant an organic garden on the property owned by the Salem Congregation.
We hope to:
- Promote and teach sustainable gardening practices and stewardship of God’s gifts.
- Provide opportunities for fellowship, friendship and stewardship among the congregations of the Moravian churches and Salem Academy and College.
- Encourage interaction between generations where knowledge can be shared, between one generation and another.
- Provide fresh produce grown without pesticides to Sunnyside and any other ministries in need.
- Design resources for children, youth and their families so that we might learn the lessons the garden teaches us and follow the Way of Christ through his parables and the Christian faith practices of Sabbath rest, gleaning, simplicity, generosity and hospitality.
So far we have delivered produce to Sunnyside Ministry three times a week and they are very happy about having fresh food!
LifelongFaith.com Website
Check out this website to help you and your church develop lifelong faith formation for all ages and generations, increasing the capacity of leaders and communities to nurture faith growth.
